INDIVISA looks at 14 athletes that are leading the way in the 2025 NWSL season
The 2025 NWSL season is here, and with it some key players looking to make major contributions for their squads, both on and off the field. There is a palpable momentum across all of women's sports, with female athletes being celebrated simply as athletes – no qualifiers, no limits.
INDIVISA looks at 14 athletes – all of which were part of Nike's 2025 NWSL kit release – that are leading the charge.
Getty ImagesAlly Watt: Orlando Pride
Ally Watt already has one goal in the 2025 NWSL season, coming in a 6-0 onslaught the Orlando Pride brought on Chicago in the season opener. She started, building off of a season in which she came on strong down the stretch and finished with three goals and one assist.
With each season in the NWSL, Watt is improving her play, and she provided three postseason assists en route to the Pride winning the NWSL championship in 2024. With her speed and defensive work rate, Watt provides value on the wing and as a backup to Barbra Banda at striker.
If Orlando wants to look to repeat this season what they did last year, Watt will need to continue her steady improvements and truly establish herself as one of the team’s best players.
“To score more goals, just have the confidence in the box,” Watt told INDIVISA of what she’s done in the offseason to increase her output. “And just be hungry. I think that’s what we’ve as the Pride have been, is putting in our minds we’re always going to stay hungry. So I need to have that mindset to be a hunter in the box.”
AdvertisementImagn ImagesRacheal Kundananji: Bay FC
Commanding one of the highest-paid transfer fees ever, Racheal Kundananji is one of Bay FC’s top players alongside Asisat Oshoala, with the duo leading the front line. With her four assists and five goals, Kundananji led Bay last year.
But five goals on 81 shots is a low percentage, and Kundananji wants to be more efficient with her finishing this year.
"I feel like I missed a lot of chances. This year, I won't promise anything, but just watch out,” the forward told ESPN.
After making the playoffs in their first NWSL season, Bay FC will look to continue to contend in the postseason. Kundananji will be a key player. She finished 2024 in fine form, scoring twice and adding two assists in her team’s final three regular season games en route to the playoffs. Look for that only to build in her second NWSL season.
Getty ImagesAlly Schlegel: Chicago Stars
With Mallory Swanson unavailable to start the season, Ally Schlegel will be a key player for Chicago this season. Last year she had six non-penalty goals, tying Swanson for the most on the Stars, and her 13 chances were good for second-most.
Her 0.49 goals per 90, meanwhile, was good for third on the team. She excels in clearing the ball and had 3.67 aerials won per 90 last season, making her particularly useful in the midfield, and her being a threat in the attack helps open up options for Chicago’s front line.
In her third NWSL season, Schlegel will take on an even bigger role. She totaled just 19 shots last season, including eight shots on target. Scoring seven goals on those shots made her one of the team’s most efficient players. She also completed 261 of 387 passes, right up there with Swanson for percentage.
Getty Images SportMichelle Alozie: Houston Dash
Michelle Alozie is a player who can do it all, on and off the field. She made headlines in recent years for spending her time researching pediatric cancer when not on a soccer pitch. But when she is playing, she’s one of Houston’s more dynamic stars.
Alozie excels at carrying the ball forward, having completed 67.9 percent of her passes last year, and her defensive abilities as a forward and defender make her one of the team’s better players when it comes to interceptions and recovering the ball.
Her versatility will allow her to open up gameplay more for Houston in 2025, which will be a year of growth after the team finished last in 2024.
